This section is from "The Horticulturist, And Journal Of Rural Art And Rural Taste", by P. Barry, A. J. Downing, J. Jay Smith, Peter B. Mead, F. W. Woodward, Henry T. Williams. Also available from Amazon: Horticulturist and Journal of Rural Art and Rural Taste.
Thinking that the readers of the Horticulturist would like to hear what Mr. Longworth thinks of the Clinton Grape, I venture to transfer the following for your columns, from his letter to me of the first of February. J. H. Watts - Rochester, N. Y.
"I believe I advised you that the must and wine of the Clinton Grape differed from any I have ever seen. The must weighs very heavy, indicating a large quantity of saccharine matter - the wine, fully fermented, acid, and weighing but little, and indicating but little spirit. Of the Grapes you sent last spring, I made two kinds of wine. One part I pressed as soon as worked, and put at the rate of seventeen ounces of sugar to the gallon of must; the other, I worked, and left to ferment in the skins, before pressing, and put no sugar. The first is of a beautiful dark-red, which I have never seen equalled in color, and very clear. It has no sweetness, and is rather dry, but of fine flavor. The other is clear, very dark-red, and more acid, but of fine flavor. I deem that in our warmer latitude, the must will have more sugar, and will make a valuable red wine - an article we have not at present. I am very desirous of giving the Grape further trial, and shall esteem it a favor if you will engage and send me from two to five bushels of the Grapes, and let them be as ripe as possible. I shall also be pleased to get from two thousand to five thousand cuttings.
I will next spring graft a dozen roots with this Grape, and the next season guarantee to have Grapes enough fully to test how they suit our climate - as I have had grafts grow the first season from ten to thirty feet, and often to bear some fruit the same season".
 
Continue to: